§ Mr. LAWSON(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the House any information about the accident at Handon Hold Colliery, West Pelton, on Friday night last, whereby three men were entombed by a fall of stone?
§ Major COLVILLEMy hon. Friend has received a preliminary report from the Divisional Inspector of Mines, but it adds very little to the information already published by the Press. Three men were trapped about eight o'clock on Friday night by a sudden and heavy fall of roof over a large area in the Shield Row seam; the bodies of two of them have been recovered, And I am afraid there is little hope that the third man will be found alive. Rescue operations have been carried on continuously with the greatest determination and bravery, and are still going on. I speak, I am sure, for the whole House in expressing our deep sympathy with the families and friends of the three men; they have had to endure a terrible ordeal of suspense and sorrow.